Social worker doesn't believe my diagnosis

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Not sure where to place this post, I'm putting it here because it deals with what constitutes being on the Autistic Spectrum, and (professional) people's perceptions of this. Sorry that it is lengthy.

My social worker came to see me for the third time yesterday. I'm on a housing list due to my AS and sensory problems.

He noted that I have a sense of humour. He mentioned past work he had done with people with Asperger's Sydrome and commented that these people would never have been able to make humerous/sarcastic comments (I'm diagnosed as being on the Autistic-spectrum, not as having Aspergers). He then went on to say that my diagnosis of Autism doesn't "feel right" (to him) and asked whether my behaviour wasn't responding to having been told/suggested this (implying that I am either an impressionable moron, or that I am willingly deceiving people - both are highly offensive/loaded queries from a man who isn't even qualified to ask).

I responded that the key word is "spectrum", and that different people are affected differently by being on the Autistic Spectrum. I likened it to clockwork, and that while I might not appear to be very similar to the people he has worked with, the underlying "clockwork"/reasons for my behaviour are very similar. I mentioned Donna Williams as someone famous who is both verbal and has a sense of humour, but is also autistic. He hadn't heard of her, and noted her name down.

Aside from many other points, I said that I'm sure the 3 or 4 specialists involved in assessing and diagnosing me also noted my sense of humour (it was in fact noted in the reports) and that it is not relevant to the diagnoses.

Obviously, I am extremely distressed by what he said, and wondered if anyone else has had similar treatment, and how you believe I might deal with this in the future since I have to work with him. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone with Aspergers with an opinion on what he said, or sources that I can potentially present to him to show well known instances where an autistic adult can appear to be comparatively socially able?

When things like this happen, I can only say that I feel all the more lost on this planet. I don't know how I am ever meant to meet people in the future as even those paid to help me function misunderstand me and fall back on stereotypes. I feel the few abilities I happen to have mask the many I don't, and that even my integrity as a human being has been attacked. I don’t have the freedom to say that I am disgusted by what this man said, as he would take my defense as an indication that his queries were justified, and instead am fatigued at having to be forever rational and calm with people that refuse to do their own research while happily jumping to potentially explosive and insulting conclusions.

You could offer to show him your diagnostic papers/medical record if you feel comfortable sharing it. Also remind him that it isn't his job to question the medical doctors that diagnosed you, his job is to help you with housing. If he continues to give you s**t, go to his superior.

It is not is place to comment. You aren't diagnosed on 'feel'. Developmental history is a part of you diagnosis, which he isn't a party to. You can complain if he does it again.

He clearly has a very narrow and rigid view of Asperger's.
The further towards the high-functioning end of the spectrum you get, the greater the variability of individuals.
Humour and personality are more evident in higher-functioning Aspies.

He won't have met so many HF Asps because many are capable of looking after themselves, even though their lives are significantly compromised in other, more typical ways.

mysterious_misfit - I think you have a serious point, actually. This man is only a mental health social worker, it isn't his place to make such loaded statements. I will talk to my mum about this and consider possibly showing him some of the relevant notes, thanks for your fast reply.

0_equals_true - I now regret not having said that to him, about the fact that the diagnosis isn't based on how any professionals "feel". I find his statement bizarre. Thank you for replying so quickly and clearly.

You are spot on, thank you for clarifying my own thoughts. When I mentioned that the key word is "spectrum", my mum said that the social worker looked blank/confused. I feel that his knowledge about the autistic spectrum is limited to those on the "lower functioning" end. I'm a "special case" in that I require a lot of the same care as a lower functioning AS person might, but am verbal, which may be where his confusion stems from. I may try to clarify the concept of "high functioning" to him some time. Thank you very much.

No worries, I am a night hawk.

Obviously indeed. I am distressed also. I am capable of having a sense of humor, and I am most certainly very capable of understanding the simple concept of sarcasm. I do not always pick it up in practice, but I've understood the theory since it was explicitly explained to me the year I turned 9. I am offended by this person's derogatory and denigrating assessment of my skills, competencies and potential. I expect it felt a great deal more offensive, distressing and humiliating to you.

Yes, I have had similar treatment. I tried to be reasonable, accommodating, and relied on the professional and ethical standards of the persons involved to work with me. I cannot say I'm happy with the outcome.
My opinion is that his comments are denigrating, offensive and contrary to the evidence. If people with autistic spectrum disorders could not do the things he refers to, being able to do them would be an exclusionary criteria in widely used diagnostic criteria.

Not only is this person behaving no differently to someone who encounters a few women who are not good with maths and then assumes no women can be good at maths, he is bringing his discriminatory nonsense into his professional conduct.

This little stereotype of his, based on an absurdly small set of data, requires that people with AS universally have particular traits that no widely used diagnostic criteria require someone to have for the diagnostic threshold to be met. Does this chap honestly think that the people who put the DSM criteria together (for instance) all universally failed to notice what he found out working as a social worker? Frankly, it's difficult for me to differentiate that from delusions of grandeur.




Do you have to continue to work with this person? Is there some community service where you live that could give you advice on your legal rights as a person characterised by disability, in regards to anti-discrimination law?

I can be very humorous, sarcastic, funny (about once every 3 weeks or so..., punster, etc. I have to agree with the gallery; a professional psychiatrist should trump a social worker.

Spectrum is the key. I intimated to a friend of mine that I was AS, but he had a rigid definition, and couldn't see it. People believe what they want to.

I use a different sense of humor. Somehow other people think they are humor but I don't think so. It all depends on what is your definition of "humor".

I suppose that I just use my sense of humor in defferent way
but it dosen't mean that I never tell jokes or make people laugh.
(but my classmates all think that I am boring)

Might he refuse to help you or slow it down?

He sounds like a waste of time. Skip the "IF" and go to his supervisor. Your time is to precious to waste any more on him. Like you don't have enough to deal with...

kick him

Actually, you say that - but there's a growing body of scientific evidence which shows that it's physically possible to kick common sense into certain kinds of people.

Sounds like the social worker thinks he knows it all. May be a power thing, I've known a doctor or two who don't seem happy unless they can contradict my own assessment of myself. And why do I always feel like a hypochondriac after a few minutes with some of them?

It was a hard time for me emotionally when I took on board the idea I was likely Aspie. It's a massive shift in self-image but it does seem to give a better grip on reality. I wouldn't take kindly to somebody trying to unpick that.

If he continues to meddle, ask for a different guy.

Pretty annoying when people step outside their professional bounds. Try asking him what is his role exactly next time he asks you something like this. Perhaps asking him to clarify his position to you.. might stop him asking and suggesting things that he has no business asking. He needs to stick to his job.

as a psychiatric social worker he probably has a psychodynamic type background. They often dont believe in the medical model and think most problems are caused by parents.

Contact NAS and ask if they have any advocates that could help speak up for you during your visits or ask PALS (patient advise liason) if they can help.

Ive had the same problems and had social workers suggesting Im PD rather than AS and they also refuted my diagnoses saying that doctors often have little clinical experience!

I think a lot of people in this field wont except a person has AS (especially a woman) unless they are clutching a battery collection or train timetable.